Where I post about knitting, yarn, art, cooking, and life in general.

I think we are gonna talk seriously about getting a maid service when we get back. I'll be working full time and doing other things on the side, so I think the money will be there for someone to do vacuuming, dusting, mopping and wiping down once a week. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but these actions take up so much of what little free time I have that it would feel wonderful to have them done for me/us.

Work is going better on the show, I put in a few hours on Wed. night and had a crit today, it went well even with the hypercritical prof that everyone is scared of. I keep vacillating betweens fears of "my environment will not feel oceany enough,"; "I will not have enough creatures"; and "my paintings will look like garbage."

We'll see.:)

Mark's gone til Sat. night on a rugby trip. I'll miss him a lot, but it'll also give me time to actually clean without him asking "why are you doing that NOW?" (A: "Because *I* have to do it sometime, *I* might as well do it now.") Of course I don't say that. But I'd like to.

I am on some kind of Lorna's binge right now. It is so sick! I didn't buy any more, but I want to. So, to make myself feel an eensy smidgen better, I thought I'd make a list of all the colors I plan to buy in the sometime future. (Note that the Happy Valley socks are decidely unhappy right now. Still stuck on heel two. Ugh!) At the moment I'm mostly into socks, but I wouldn't say no to some worsted. Imagine THOSE socks! :) Did I tell you I plan to make every pair of socks in the Folk Socks book? No? Well, it's my New Years resolution, except it will start on vacation.

Nearly solid:

two skeins Pewter (I LOVE this color. It's the next purchase... when I actually have money anyway.) two skeins Carrot two skeins Douglas Fir two skeins Blackberry two skeins Lilac one skein each of Chocolate, Denim, and Cranberry for fair isle socks

Multi:

two skeins Springer (just purchased, one down!) two skeins Georgetown (love this color...) four skeins Baltic Sea (a pair for me, a pair for him.) Two skeins Bee Stripe. I love Bees. Two skeins Lucky Stripe. I love pink and orange together! Two skeins Desert Flower Two skeins Gold Hill Two skeins Mineshaft (for him) One skein each in Lakeview, Seaside, and Pioneer.

T told you it's a sickness, okay? At least you know what to get me for every holiday for the next three years... maybe I'll cross these off as I get them too, that'd be fun. I also thought I might buy two skeins a month, or as a treat for finishing a pair of socks in the previous month's LL, whichever happens first. A massive stash of LL is not a bad thing. Just ask Annawolfsong on Knitter's Review, who is selling more LL than most LYSs! (I bought what she had of colors I wanted. Of course.)

Based on some small calculations on my handy mathemetizermajiggy, it'll only cost me... oh... $315. That's a lot. But not as much as I thought it would be, oddly. And HEY!!! I just found two unused skeins of LL sock in Motherlode! How timely is that? Now if I can finish my HV socks, I can cast on for the Motherlode ones for next month! Rock on. :)

(Yes, I am working on Saranac here and there. HV socks do get slight priority since they're almost done.)

This last few weeks have been really hard. It sounds stupid, I know, because we've had a good time visiting different places, renting movies and stuff. But my show is always on my mind and it's like a can't relax, I feel like a caged animal, just pacing and waiting to be let out. it doesn't help I put off a lot of other classwork to work on the show, didn't get as much done as I thought, and now I have this mountain in front of me. Any words of encouragement you guys have would be appreciated today.

Not surprisingly, I turned to retail therapy to assure myself all was well. TO be fair, it was on sale, and only things I wanted anyway so I don't feel too much like an ass. From a gal on Knitter's Review I bought two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport, one in Aslan (I love Chronicles of Narnia!) and one in Sand Ridge, which I think I will give to Emily at work since she really likes that colorway and she's knitting tons for her nephew. I also bought, FOR ME, two skeins of Shepherd Sock in Springer, which I liked because the colors seem sort of zen. I had to fight myself to keep from buying the single skein of Pewter that she had. PLUS my mom is bringing me a skein of LL Worsted in Happy Valley (my favorite!!) to make my class model out of.

I'll post a picture of the Saranac I am knitting for Mark as soon as I get a couple more inches done. It's going slowly. The Happy Valley socks (for my mom, oddly) are stalled at the second heel. Why, I don't know. I guess I hate picking up stitches more than I realized.

It just seems like a lot right now. I should have a cry and a nap and get back to it.

I know I haven't been posting much... as you can see I've been hard at work on my show which goes up in three weeks!! I am scared to death and still not able to motivate myself to paint much. To make matters worse more fiber arrived in the mail today that is STUNNING - silk/merino, merino/tencel, and handpainted merino. I'm not touching it til school's out though. I just can't!

This is a bit late in posting, but we visited Chattanooga this past Saturday on a lark. Mostly we laid out in the park there near the water and it was perfectly cool and delicious. We also did a bit of shopping...!

In a small shop selling everything from tea pots to postcards to wind chimes, I found a small display of beads, including the lavender pearls you see at left. I only had a little money with me, so I bought a dozen, knowing I wanted to knit something with them but wasn't sure what! Later that day we visited Genuine Purl, a really nice yarn shop on North Market. They were exploding with yarn, especially new Rowan, Diakeito, and handpaints galore. I had to buy some souvenir yarn, of course and I fondled lots before I settled on this little Japanese laceweight (you can just see the edge in the photo). I am pretty sure it's angora/silk/wool, but as the label's entirely in Japanese I'm not sure. Score, it matched the lavender pearls SO nicely!

Now to find the perfect pattern.... ironically, I found it at work (Threaded Bliss Yarns, come see me!!) It's a Fiber Trends pattern, called the Cocoon Lace Wrap and is sooo perfect! It even has six little points on each end, good for the dozen pearls I have.

I want to work on it NOW, but instead I'm putting it all in a bag together to be my vacation knitting. Now, of course, I'm debating whether or not I should spend $21 to get two balls of Kidsilk Haze in Smoke to carry along with the lace... since it's pretty fine, but not the least bit fuzzy. I like fuzz!

I admit, I have been an unappreciative Secret Pal. I didn't post the last gift, even though it thrilled me, because I just didn't feel like blogging at that time. Now I feel a little more balanced, and I got another gift from her in the mail, so here's the entry.

THANK YOU SECRET PAL! I AM THE LUCKIEST PAL IN THE WORLD! Whew, that was tiring. But here's the deal - I really am so lucky. Not only does my pal give me gifts that suit my taste, but she also writes a very kind note always and it made me smile a lot today. In my first package, she gave me two balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (which you're right - I love it more than Cashsoft). I am now so crazy about Cashmerino that I'm buying it as it's on sale at the LYS I work at. I couldn't resist casting on with it, and you'll be relieved to know that I finished my project already - the fingerless handwarmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. She also gave me a Rowan pattern book, Classic Weekend, from which I'll be making the little wrap sweater in the near future. Also included in gift one was some handmade soap from a Farmer's Market that my boyfriend immediately sniffed and declared acceptable for both man and woman use, and has thus been used. :)

In the second round, my pal outdid herself even more. (Are you sure you're staying in the $50 limit?? *grin*) She sent me a skein of Colinette Shimmer in colorway Morocco. This is how magical my pal is- normally I dislike shimmery stuff. I generally dislike Colinette (with the exception of Giotto and occasional colors of Point 5) but she managed to pick the exact color I would have chosen for myself. And not just in the Shimmer - she also sent me two skeins of Alpaca Cloud in Peppermint, my favorite color in that yarn! Last but certainly not least, an awesome mix cd which we listened to in the car on vacation.

You see what I mean about being lucky? My pal is SO getting something sent to her from New Zealand when she reveals herself!

Hey, just wanted to say sorry for the super negative posts the last couple days. I am feeling much better after my first day at work at the LYS!!! I did really well I think, enjoyed it, even though I totally screwed up the in-store model I am trying desperately to make. After thinking I finally had it cast on, I get home, get through one repeat of a lace pattern I've ALREADY DONE, RECENTLY, and think "Hey, this looks a bit wonky." Well, I count a couple times and I have 3 extra stitches. And somehow my marker's wandered. *sigh*

Tonight I will have a picture of the cast on and CORRECTLY DONE lace repeat. Scout's honor!

Also a picture of my secret pal's gift, which has become that secret bar of dark chocolate hidden in the freezer for when you are about to start screaming if you don't have some mindless knitting right this second!!!

Well, now I feel put upon. It's my own fault, of course. I said I'd clean, and then took yarn out to do ebay auctions and now there's yarn everywhere and I'm stressed and what the fuck am I supposed to do with all this shit??? Why do we have so many goddamn computer cords?! I swear, there's fifty of them!! I can't tell you how tempted I am right now to just start chucking stuff, but that seems unwise. Add to that I want to work on school projects, knit, cook dinner for Mark, ... and.. and... I'm just overwhelmed. I'd like to have a good cry but that seems like even more time wasted. How is it 3 pm when I got up at 7 am?! Granted I got some stuff listed on ebay, and read an entire book, but now the apartment's a wreck and I just plain don't want to clean it.

Add to that money troubles. It's tight, man. I need to buy maybe three things from the grocery store, but I don't want to do it. I want Mark to do it, cause I spent like 30 bucks this weekend already on grocery AND I paid for date night. Granted I offered, but still. It should not take a rocket scientist to figure out, "Hey, maybe my girlfriend is tired of buying food and toiletries and stuff all week!"

This is not Mark's fault. He does not have ESP, and he's miles and miles away playing a rugby game. Maybe that's why I'm so frustrated and upset; he goes out to play (granted, it's a very hard game) and I'm at home, wanting him to HELP CLEAN and DO STUFF FOR ME. It's shitty being home all day alone because I get nothing done, am bored and lonely, and when he does get back, my first thought is "Whew, now I can get to work." WTF?? It would make more sense to get it all done while he's gone, but no, I am just plain being bratty.

Okay. Now that I've got that off my chest, I'm going to put on the tv, clean til the episode's over, take a shower, go to the store, get the soup on (Mexican Butternut Stew and Quesadillas), and then write. For school. It's strange how the thought of just sitting down and doing schoolwork gives me a sigh of relief... (As in, "My god, the crushing load I put on myself has lightened considerably! Oh, happy day!")

Well, now I feel put upon. It's my own fault, of course. I said I'd clean, and then took yarn out to do ebay auctions and now there's yarn everywhere and I'm stressed and what the fuck am I supposed to do with all this shit??? Why do we have so many goddamn computer cords?! I swear, there's fifty of them!! I can't tell you how tempted I am right now to just start chucking stuff, but that seems unwise. Add to that I want to work on school projects, knit, cook dinner for Mark, ... and.. and... I'm just overwhelmed. I'd like to have a good cry but that seems like even more time wasted. How is it 3 pm when I got up at 7 am?! Granted I got some stuff listed on ebay, and read an entire book, but now the apartment's a wreck and I just plain don't want to clean it.

Add to that money troubles. It's tight, man. I need to buy maybe three things from the grocery store, but I don't want to do it. I want Mark to do it, cause I spent like 30 bucks this weekend already on grocery AND I paid for date night. Granted I offered, but still. It should not take a rocket scientist to figure out, "Hey, maybe my girlfriend is tired of buying food and toiletries and stuff all week!"

This is not Mark's fault. He does not have ESP, and he's miles and miles away playing a rugby game. Maybe that's why I'm so frustrated and upset; he goes out to play (granted, it's a very hard game) and I'm at home, wanting him to HELP CLEAN and DO STUFF FOR ME. It's shitty being home all day alone because I get nothing done, am bored and lonely, and when he does get back, my first thought is "Whew, now I can get to work." WTF?? It would make more sense to get it all done while he's gone, but no, I am just plain being bratty.

Okay. Now that I've got that off my chest, I'm going to put on the tv, clean til the episode's over, take a shower, go to the store, get the soup on (Mexican Butternut Stew and Quesadillas), and then write. For school. It's strange how the thought of just sitting down and doing schoolwork gives me a sigh of relief... (As in, "My god, the crushing load I put on myself has lightened considerably! Oh, happy day!")

It's been a long week, to say the least. Nothing exploded, nothing melted over... it was just long. But I read a really good book today, in one sitting like I used to and it felt so good I can barely stand it. Not to mention it was good in itself -called Julie/Julia about a woman trying to make every recipe in Julia Child's cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year in her cramped apartment kitchen. It was funny, insightful, sometimes irritating (why does she hate vegetarians?? Can't please everyone I suppose). But I'd reccomend reading it when it comes out, this month I think, as I've got the Advanced Reader for it and I'm not letting go of it!

But it did make me think a lot. My life is really full, overly full if I think about it hard enough. All my life I've tried to do everything and do it right and get nothing done or fifty things half done. The truth is, I'm cheating the things that are important by expending excess energy on things that don't matter to me. And while it's not killing me now, I want to have kids some day. And actually, you know, be an artist full time. And be a good partner to my boyfriend. And I can't do those things when I use the energy I'm allotted for worrying about the most trivial crap ever. So here's my list of things I'm going to give up. I might need your help, readers, when I get caught from time to time. And I can't change a lifetime of habits in a few days. It'll take a long time for some, I'm sure. But now I know what I want, and that's a first for me.

1. Housework is not going to be a political debate any more. I say this, but Mark has never argued with me over what I "should" be doing. But I do it in my own head, and it's pathetic. The truth is, I enjoy cleaning. I like that deep breath one takes when you come in the door and everything shines. I keep thinking though, about all the advice women who are married ever gave me. "Men will only do as much as you expect them to." Well, I think this is crappy and I don't want to think of my boyfriend that way. When I ask him to do things, he does it. So why do I meanly leave the dishes unwashed when I have hours of free time in which to do them, just because I think "Hey!! He should do something too!!" He does do something.

2. I give up on amassing an amazing yarn stash, as least for now. That will come later, when I have a studio of my own with cubbies to fill with rainbows. Now I need money , and stability, and security. I will still be envious of knitters who can go to their stash and pull out enough amazing cashmere for a sweater. But that kind of clutter stresses me out, and it's not like I don't know the most amazing online shops and LYS who are GLAD to help me find that yummy project yarn. I am a damned good online shopper; I'll find it when I need it.

3. I'm going to cook and clean when I want to and when I feel like it. I won't feel guilty or taken advantage of. If I don't want to or don't feel like it, I'll ask Mark to, and I won't feel guilty about that either.

4. I'll paint and draw and knit when I feel like it. My boyfriend will not leave me if I don't produce a masterpiece. I haven't done it yet, and he's still here. I think I'll produce more this way anyway.

5. I will not get an A in every class. I will put on as good as senior show as I am capable of, and I will not feel horrified if mine is not the "best" work. I will work and enjoy the classes that interest me; I will do the necessary work for the ones I don't. I won't spend all my energy on a project that bores me. I will not quit it either.

6. I'll knit for enjoyment and to show love, rather than to win favors. And as a way to use up my ridiculous stash.

SIgning off for a few days. My secret pal sent me a great gift that came at just the right time. I'll photograph it in a few days, before I open it. (Except for the soap. I'm already using that in a delicious smelling bath. I may have to order more...!)